Super Slide, Royal Arches Area 5.9

   
Search
Go

Yosemite Valley, California USA

  • Currently 3.0/5
Avg time to climb route: 3-5 hours
Approach time: 10 minutes
Descent time: 1 hour
Number of pitches: 5
Height of route: 500'
Overview
Super Slide ascends mostly well-protected and sustained 5.7 to 5.8 hand cracks. After a few wandering approach pitches, the bulk of the route follows tasty crack systems in an excellent exposed position. The moves are consistently fun with an exceptional finishing crack. This is a good introduction to 5.9 multi-pitch climbs. You can pull through all cruxes on gear except on the second pitch.
Photos - View all 13 photos of Super Slide as: Thumbnails | Slideshow
Climber Beta on Super Slide
  A total of (55) submissions of route beta on Super Slide
Which SuperTopo guidebooks include a topo for Super Slide?

Yosemite Free Climbs
Find other routes like Super Slide

 
History
FA: Gene Drake and Rex Spaith, 1971.

Strategy
Most climbers rope up for the standard 5.2 start. For more climbing, start on Trial By Fire (5.8) followed by two pitches of wandering and mungy 4th and moderate 5th class with bolted belays.

The only poorly protected part of the climb comes on the second pitch. At the top of this pitch, manage the rope carefully or you may drop rocks on your belayer.

Now the climb gets good. The next three pitches become gradually harder as you alternate between liebacking, stemming, and straight-in jams. All the belay stations were recently rebolted by the American Safe Climbing Association. The final 40 feet of the last pitch are gorgeous.

On the last rappel of the descent, consider setting a toprope on Rupto Pac (5.11c) for some delicate slab practice.

Retreat
Retreat by rappelling with two 50m or 60m ropes.
Approach
From the northeast corner of the Ahwahnee parking lot, take the hikers’ trail east. After 250 feet, just before a stream crossing (may be dry in summer and fall), locate a climbers’ trail on the left. Follow this for 100 feet then ti the base of the wall and skirt the base up and to the left for another few hundred feet to another obvious 4th class corner on the right.

Descent
Rappel the route with two 50m or 60m ropes. At Pitch 3, rappel straight down to a bushy tree and then to the ground.
Everything You Need to Know About Yosemite Valley
Search the internet for beta on Super Slide
  Search the internet for information on Super Slide
Source: SuperTopo Guidebook Staff Last update: May 15, 2018
Royal Arches Area - Super Slide 5.9 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click to Enlarge
Photo: Chris McNamara
Other Routes on Royal Arches Area
Royal Arches Area - Royal Arches 5.10b or 5.7 A0 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Royal Arches, 5.10b or 5.7 A0
Royal Arches Area
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

A surprisingly moderate passage on such a large wall.
Royal Arches Area - Serenity Crack 5.10d - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Serenity Crack, 5.10d
Royal Arches Area
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Serenity Crack follows elegant line up horrible pin scars.
Royal Arches Area - Sons of Yesterday 5.10a - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Sons of Yesterday, 5.10a
Royal Arches Area
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Sons of Yesterday follows five pitches of great 5.10 cracks.
Royal Arches Area - Peruvian Flake 5.10a - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Peruvian Flake, 5.10a
Royal Arches Area
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Royal Arches Area - Arches Terrace 5.8 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click for details.
Arches Terrace, 5.8
Royal Arches Area
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

More routes on Royal Arches Area
SuperTopo Videos